FLORENCE

Florence is the city where Renaissance started , known as a city of art.

When To Go :

We needed to visit Florence on July but it is so hot on July and August , that’s why i would recommend to visit on Spring or Autumn.

How To Go :

There are flights to Rome from all around the World. But i was already in Rome , so i got the train from Rome Termini Station to Florence Santa Maria Novella Station and arrived after a 4,5 hours journey. You can visit https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html and check ticket prices and time schedules. While there is no confirmation coming to mail adress from website , you will have to buy the ticket at train station. We bought the tiickets for 22,15 euros from Rome to Florence. One of the best thing in Italy is the train lines. Train stations are always in the center and they work so often that you can move inside Italy so quickly.

Where To Stay :

Hotels seem quiet expensive to stay in Florence unfortunately. For a room for 2 people , you will pay at least 100 euros per night. A good one will be around 200 euros. But if you do like me , you can make it cheaper. If you buy the ticket in advance or much earlier , you will pay more. But if you have a look at hotels around 17:00-18:00 , you will see that prices are going down. By this way you will need to move to different hotels everyday.

What To Do in Florence :

1-) Florence Cathedral(Santa Maria Del Fiore) :

We can count the cathedral as the center of Florence and start our tour with it. Cathedral seems wonderful from outside but inside you will not see fresks and paintings like in the churches in Rome. But it’s dome especially , so special both inside and outside. The entrance seems free but it is not totally correct. While there is a museum on the basement floor of the cathedral , you will need to show your ticket on the entrance of the cathedral and practically it will not be free. https://operaduomofirenze.skiperformance.com/en/store#/en/support/prices here you can buy your tickets or you can buy at the Office next to cathedral. There are some different types of tickets including different sections. I was able to buy Ghiberti Pass which you can visit cathedral , Santa Reparata on the basement floor , Baptistery of San Giovanni and Museo Dell’Opera Del Duomo for 15 euros. If you think that you can climb up all the stairs to dome and tower , you can also buy Brunelleschi Pass that includes also dome and bell tower.

2-) Baptistery Of San Giovanni :

Baptistery locates in front of cathedral. It is well known with its Gates but Gates were removed to museum in the other side. Still you can go inside and have a look around.

3-) Museum Of The Works Of The Cathedral(Dell’Opera Del Museum) :

It is a museum where you the Works of the cathedral and baptistery displayed. It will be included in your ticket , so it is worth to visit.

4-) Cathedral Square(Piazza Del Duomo) :

The square located just next to the cathedral is one of the best 3 square in Florence. I think it is the 3rd one. Here you can spend your time with the great view of cathedral.

5-) Old Palace(Palazzo Vecchio) :

Old Palace was actually Town Hall in the past. Then turned into a museum. One another place to see in the center of the city. You can see masterpieces of many artists but especially Judith And Holofernes by Donatello is the most important one. Entrance fee to palace is 10 euros but if you also would like to climb up to Arnolfo Tower , totally you will need to pay 14 euros.

6-) Signoria Square(Piazza Della Signoria) :

Signoria Square is the one in front of Old Palace. For me it is the most important square in Florence. At the square , there is copy of David by Michelangelo , copy of Judith and Holofernes by Donatello , Equestrian Statue Of Cosimo 1 , Fountain Of Neptune , Loggia Dei Lanzi and sculptures inside. Also you enjoy some orchestral performances in the evenings.

7-) Old Bridge(Ponte Vecchio) :

Can be the most beautiful bridge of the World. You can spend really good time listening to street musicians on the bridge and have a great view of Arno River.

8-) Uffizi Gallery :

It is known as one of the best museums of the World but i can not agree this. Vatican Museums seem much better. While Renaissance started in Florence , most important masterpieces of Renaissance are not in Florence. I am not so much attracted in Uffizi Gallery. Of course there are so many important Works in this gallery but none of the most important Works of Da Vinci , Michelangelo and Donatello is here. There is a copy of Laocoons And Sons Sculptures , of which original version is located in Vatican Museums in Rome. You can buy museum ticket for 38 euros including Uffizi Gallery , Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens. Ticket Office located in another street.

9-) Pitti Palace(Palazzo Pitti) :

So that we are passing Arno River. Once used by Napoleon , Pitti Palace is one the places to see. 10 mins by walk from Uffizi Gallery , passing through Old Bridge , you will arrive at Pitti Palace.

10-) Boboli Gardens :

You can enter to Boboli Gardens from Pitti Palace. In this big park with beautiful fountains and sculptures , there is not a shadow , so you should better watch out not to be burnt.

11-) Gallery Of Accademia Of Florence :

Like in Uffizi Gallery , you can find important Works of the Renaissance artists in this gallery. The most importan piece in the museum is David by Michelangelo. I couldn’t visit this place while i was not able to wait in the long line. But if you buy your ticket online , you can enter without waiting.

12-) Michelangelo Square(Piazzale Michelangelo) :

It is the best place to watch the sunset. Most of the people are going here to spend sometime in the sunset time. You will need to climb up to a hill but it is worth. You can buy your wine and bring with you as all other people do and enjoy the wonderful view.

13-) Other Places :

You can get bored of churches and museums as we do. So let me explain other places to visit shortly. Basilica Of Santa Croce , San Miniato Al Monte , Bargello National Museum , Basilica Of Santa Maria Novella , Medici Chapel and Galileo Museum are the other places to visit if you have enough time in Florence.

FOOD

As always we are not satisfied outside of Turkey. But let us recommends something ;

1-) Trattoria Zaza :

I think it is the best restaurant in Florence. Here we tried Risotto and Ravioli. At the end also tried Tiramisu. Everything was delicious. Atmospher was great. I was a bit suprised to be charged 5 euros for table fee. It was interesting. You will experience this everywhere in Florence which we didn’t like.

2-) All’Antico Vinaio :

It is the best place for sandvich , or we can say Panini. Portions are so big that 1 seems enough for 2 people. Bread is a delicious but a bit salty one called Schiattiaca. You can buy 1 for 8-10 euros average.

I visited many other restaurants and didn’t like them much. Service , taste and prices performance is low. Even i am a steak lover and even Florence Steak is so famous , i didn’t like steaks there. When i ordered a soup , i got a Pappa Al Pomodoro which was not something like soup. You can find many things that you already tried in Rome like Pastas and pizzas. Wine is really good and cheap in Florence. You can also try Lampredotto which has some similarities with Kokoreç in Turkey. Kind of a sandvich includes some meat and offal.

SHOPPING

Italy is not something for shopping. Some of the best luxury brands based in Italy of course. But for something cheap , not recommendable. But still on the way to Old Bridge there are some reasonable places for shopping. For daily shoppings you can visit supermarkets. Especially when you pass Old Bridge , you can see Sapori & Dintori Store on the left. It is a quiet good supermarket. Like in Rome , in Florence also in small shops 2 lt water costs 2 euros and beer also at least 2 euros. But in supermarkets you can find for even 4 times cheaper. Also you should deifinitely visit Central Market(Mercato Centrale) for shopping.

BONUS : There are many fountains in Florence , every square and most of the corners. If you carry a bottle with you , you can full it always and you will not need to pay for water much.

Florence is the second most beautiful city in Italy , it is the city where Renaissance started. But to my opinion , when you g oto Florence from Rome , you will not get satisfied enough. While all the churches are free in Rome , you will have to pay for all of them in Florence. You can see some of the masterpieces of Renaissance artists in Rome even for free but in Florence you can not see them in famous galleries even you pay. Table fee was also another important issue in Florence. Service in restaurants is lower quality than Rome. These were negatives but Florence is Florence of course.